Chemical compositions and processes for mixing the same



Patented July 14, 1936- Nemours & Company,

cm-zmcal. cosrrosrrroms roa mxmc ran NT OFFICE m r'aocassas sanm Pattersonand, James H. Peterson,

ilmington, DeL, assignors to E. L du Pont de poration of Delaware v of dispersions of a n, Del., a cor- No Drawing. ApplicationMaroh 15, 1935 Serial No. 11,320 20 Claims. (Cl- 91- 68) This invention relates to aqueous dispersions and more particularly to dispersions of solids in aqueous solutions of salts of deacetylated chitin.

This invention has as an object the preparation flnelyrdivided solid or solids in an aqueous solution of a salt of deacetylated chitin. A further object is the dispersion thus produced; A still further object is a coated or im- Dregnated article comprising a base material to which pigments or other finely divided solids are 1 anchored by means of deacetylated chitin or derivative thereof.

A still further object is a process for the preparation of such coated arti-, cles. Other objects will apear. hereinafter.

These objects are "accomplished by the following invention wherein a dispersion is made by agitating a iinely divided substantially water inconditions of dispersion in an soluble and unreactive solid infusible under the aqueous solution of a salt of deacetylated chitin, the resultant disperslpn being used in the coating, sizing, impregnation, etc., of a base material.

This invention deals with a material only recently available to'the art, namely, acid soluble partially deacetylated chitin.

In co nding application of George w. Rigby, 8e No. 731,600,

flled June 21, 1934, there is disclosed a method for the preparation of suitable deacetylated chitin.

In this method shrimp, lobster or crab shells, freed from contaminant adherent material, such as flesh,by treatment with 1% solution of soda ash at the boiling temperature, then freed from lime salts by treatment with 5% hydrochloric acid followed by a second boiling with 1% soda ash solution, is deacetylated by treatment with caustic alkali at an. elevated temperature for a considerable time, for example, with 40% sodium hydroxide at 110 C. for

about four hours.

The. material thus obtained contains from 2.0% to 90% and preferably. to of its 'nitrogen in the form of free amino groups.

The viscosity of the solutions made from the deacetylated chitin-is markedly influenced by the treatment. More drastic treatment than that given above results in a material of considerable low viscosity. Lessdrastic t reatment than that above described results in a material of increased viscosity. A material obtained by a given treatment may be increased in viscosity by heating for a suitable length of time, or decreased in viscosity by such as hydrogen peroxide, to

the addition of suitable oxidizing agent,

an aqueous solution of a salt or to a suspension of the solid.

The Rigby application mentioned above dis- I I -dea.cetylatedchitin or to neutralize the acid. Sulfates such as calcium sulfate even tho sparingly Many of the salts do not foam, some foam slightly and others very badly on vigorous agitation. In general, the salts of the longer chain or higher molecular weight acids foam more than the lower molecular weight acids. With the acetate, for- 'mate, maleate, tartrate, etc., almost no roaming takes place unless caused by the dispersed material.

Aqueous solutions of salts of deacetylated chitin have been found to be generally eflectlve in thedispersion of non-reactive, substantially water-insoluble, materials which are solid under the conditions of preparation of the dispersion. By non-reactive solid is meant a solid which 25 neither reactswith deacetylated chitin with the formation of. a precipitate nor neutralizes the weak acid with which the deacetylated chitin is put into solution. While a relatively insoluble reactive material may frequently be dispersed, the dispersion usually sets to a gel after a shorter or 'longer period of time, i. e., when suflicient of the reactive material has dissolved to react with the soluble, are especially reactive due to the unusual insolubility oi the sulfate of deacetylated chitin. In preparing dispersions; solutions of salts of deacetylated chitin maybe used as such and the pigment or other solid material added with suitable mechanical treatment or the pigment andv the dry deacetylated chitin may be mixed together dry and dilute aqueous acid added with suitable mechanicalagitation when dispersion is desired. Special compositions may also be madeby si p y dry or b coas flatina deacetylated chitin dispersions with ammonia or other alkaline material and drying. The dry materials may be re-dispersed by adding suflicient acid and stirring.

The dispersions may bemade by a number of processes which combine thedeflocculation of aggregates to ultimate particles with suspension of those particles in the liquid. The solid material 55 perform considerable mechanical work upon the material to be dispersed as for example by mixing the pigment-like material with a rather viscous solution of the salt of deacetylated chitin in a Werner-Pfieiderer or Banbury type mixer, edge runner, roll mill, or the like. I

The invention is applicable to a wide variety of organic'and inorganic materials'to be dispersed, a wide variety of salts of deacetylated chitin usable, and awide variety of viscosities of these salts. A variety of additional materials may be added to the dispersion tp increase its usefulness.

The ratio of-deacetylated chitin to dispersed material maybe varied greatly as well'as the concentrations of dispersed materials. Different dis-.

' persions may be mixed, with each other and with emulsions. The dispersions may be greatly diluted. In generaL'there is no excessivefoaming in the preparation of the dispersions. The dis-,

persions are resistant to deterioration. Dispersions may be improved by heating. In the examples deacetylated chitin isused in solution as the salt, and unless otherwise stated, as the acetate,

the proportion, unless otherwise stated, being reabove effects may be modified since good disper-' sions will not show Brownian movement andset-,

ferred to deacetylated chitin as such and not to the salt, and being based on the dispersed material at 100%.

Dispersions. generally are described as good, fair or poor. For very small particlrsize good dispersions settle very slowly and usually leave a cloudy layer, fair dispersions settlev slowly, while poor dispersions usually settle outwithin a day as contrasted with settling within a few minutes for undispersed material. A drop of a good dispersion added to a large volume of water diffuses uniformly into 'water, the rate depending upon the viscosity of the dispersion, while fair or poor dispersions will clot or fiocculate instead. As compared to undispersed systems, dispersions are usually high in fluidity. Brownian movementis largely present in good dispersions,- while fair and poor ,dispersions will shownumerous clumps or fiocculates 6f solid when viewed under the micro-. scope. For material of larger particle size, the

tlingwill be very appreciable orrapid. The effect :of the dispersing agent can readily be noted, however.

while the more finely: divided and/or low density pigments usually require more dispersing agent, to of deacetylated chitin to dispersed material has been found to be. a very useful range-with 10% to sometimes desirable- 0.1% has been found to have a very definite effect, while 500% or more has'been used in certain cases. The actual upper limit is determined only by the viscosity of the dispersion and for low proportions of dispersed materialsmay be very high. On the basis of total dispersion, less than .05% of deacetylated chitin has given'good dispersions.

' The rahge of concentrations given, both of Ills pers'ed material and dispersing agent is for the purpose oi illustration and is not to be taken as limitative. The grade of deacetylated chitin refers to the viscosity of the 5% solutions in 5.0%

acetic acid at 25' C. Low viscosity materials range from about 1 to about poises; medium from 35 to 250, and high viscosity materials above 250, often over 1000. Very low'refers to material which will form only very brittle films and which 5' is without fixing power, while very high refers to;

material having a viscosity too high for accurate measurement. In the preparation of solutions of deacetylated chitin salts, at least 0.8 mol. of acid is normally 10 required for each 161 parts of deacetylated chitin;

In general, from 0.8 to one ,mol. of acid to 161 parts of deacetylated chitin have been used, although higher concentrations can be used.

The various grades of deacetylated chitin have 15 been found to give good dispersions. While the Twenty parts by weight of. titanium dioxide pigment were dispersed in a solution of medium f viscosity (shrimp) deacetylated chitin acetate to give a good stable dispersion comprising 20% pigment and 5% of dispersing agent. A fair dis-' I persion was first made up bybriefiy agitating the pigment-solution with a drink mixer, and this improved by passage thru a colloid mill. This procedure very rapidly gave excellent dispersions, 40

and is very generally applicable.

Eeample 2 A red lake iazo type color) and water, when put thru a colloid mill using 10% of pigment and y no dispersing agent, came out as a very thick paste. .Sufiicient low viscosity shrimp deacetylated chitin (as the acetate) to equal 1% of the pigment was added, and on passing thru the mm a thin, low viscosity, dispersion resulted. r

A large variety of materials have been similarly'dispersed and include thiodiphenylamine,

lead arsenate, barium fiuosilicate, ethylene glycol di-beta naphthylether, titanium dioxide extended with barium and calcium sulfates, lithopone, barium sulfate. talc, asbestine, carborundum powder, calcium carbonate, china clay, paper makers clay, chromeyellows, Milori blues, wall paper clays, carbon black, rose toner powder and paste (pl'iosphotungstie acid colors), toluidine toner, lithol red toner, anthraquinone dyes (insoluble)", phosphotungstic acidpigments and ,Halopont Blue" crude, zinc sulfide, silica, blue lead, graphite, various iron oxides, red lead, madder lake, para toner, maroon lake ultramarineblue, zinc chromate, chrome green, various titanates such as barium, magnesium or calcium titan ate; water repellant pigments such as aluminum stearate, etc.

The maximum concentration of solid, all else c being equal, varies with the material dispersed,

lithopone, for example, permitting a higher solids content of the dispersion than'titanium dioxide.

- The materials containingcalciumsulfate and carbonate were dispersed satkllfactorily but set to 0.032% Gardinol W. A. (sodium salts of sulfates of higher fraction of coconut oilalcohols including dodecyl, tetradecyl, etc.) concentrated powder, 0.032% 2-chloro-5-hydroxytoluene as mold inhibitor and 1.2% of deacetylated chitin (to pigment) as acetate. 'Paper coated with this dispersion showed excellent resistance to dry rubbing. With a 25% dispersion of titanium dioxide containing 3% of deacetylated chitin to pigment there was a slight rubbing off of pigment, but

I with 6% ofdeacetylated chitin, resistance to. both persions of pigments werebrushed on paper.' Tests indicated that one pound of deacetylated chitin was equivalent to about three pounds of wet and dry rubbing was good. The higher the proportion of binder used, the less was the tendency of pigment-to rub off.

' Example 5 A dispersion comprising clay, 80 parts by weight; barium sulfate, 20 parts; low viscosity.

deacetylated chitin, 7 parts; acetic acid, 2.5 parts; and water, .250 parts, gave a very satisface tory paper coating, taking ink well after calendering to give attractive prints.

Forpcertain washable wall-paper colors, deacetylated chitinhas been compared with casein. Tests were made with a chrome yellow and a rose lake, using 5% of deacetylated chitin to pigment. Casein and deacetylated chitin discasein in fixing power, andthat the same relationships existed in waterproofing tests with casein plus formaldehyde. In addition, deacetylated-chitin solutions have, and develop, no .disagreeable odor, nor do they deteriorate or spoil rapidly.

Carbon black and'Milori blue on beins passed thru a colloid mill are dispersed as very finely divided solids with few large solid particles visible under the microscope. Dispersions containa ing 5% of pigment and 25% (based on the piga flat black paint, the carbon black dispersion was particularly effective, giving a uniform flat black coating, resistant to dry and wet rubbing.

when applied to fabric and dried, dispersions of pigments in deacetylated chitin fwithstand washing to. a veryconsiderable degree. Dispersions may serve for dyeing, delustering, printing, sizing, opacifying, etc'., the fabric. The following examples show the printing and dyeing of the fabrics with dispersions of this type:

Example 6. l

' The following dispersions in deacetylated chitin solutions were made up and used for printing designs on rayon.

"A. 20% titanium dioxide using 10% r tow viscosity deacetylated -chitin to. pigment.

B. 20% titanium dioxide using 10% of low viscosity deacetylated chitin to pigment with hymolal salts.

' c. 20%.barium sulfate'uslng 10% of low vie 'cosity 'deacetylated chitin toflpigment.

aoemeo Ivory" soap solution almost obliterated, altho the casein wasime eluding summer,

'ipersions of pigments in deacetylated chitin 'solu- 'tionsin D. 20% titanium dioxide using 8% of high viscosity deacetylated chitin to pigment. y

E. 20% lithopone using 8% of high viscosity. deacetylated chitin to pigment. N

F. A commercial delustering paste. G. 0.55% Milori Blue 45% low viscosity acetylated chitin to pigment. 2 I 1 H. Carbon black 2% using 25%. low viscosity deacetylated chitin (as acetate) .to pigment.

' The prints were dried and thefabric. laundered d to. demonstrate laundry-fastness. After 90 minutes total washing in an ABC washer with other clothing the commercialdelustering paste. was largely removed, the Milori' Blue, carbon black, and barium sulfate but slightly, while the other 15 prints were not visibly afiected. I

Sample 7 Acetate and viscose rayon were "dyed" with Milori Blue pigment by immersing the cloth in a 2 dispersion containing 2%. of pigment and 10%- of deacetylated chitin to pigment." One batch I of cloth was pressed to remove excess liquid,

; the other rinsed in water. 'Rinsing removed some of the'pigment, especially. with the viscose rayon. 5 After drying, both sets of samples were washed one hourat C. in initially-one-h'alf percent with very little loss of color. I Example 8 Dispersions were made up containing 20% of titanium dioxide and 4% and 2% of binder or dispersing agent respectively. ,Deacetylated chitin as acetate, gelatin, casein and glue were'used inorder that comparisons might be made. After printing on rayon, samples were'dried at room temperature and at 85 C. while others were treated with formaldehyde oracetic anhydride i. e. a solution comprising glacial acetic acid and acetic anhydride. After boiling for. one hour in 40 .in. itially one-half per cent "Ivory soap; it; was observed that in all .cases the deacetylated chitin prints were not appreciably altered. The prints containing 2% deacetylated chitin to pigment were whiter than those containing 4%, and the acetic anhydride treated samples were both definitely whiter than the others. -In all cases the prints made using other dispersingagents were provedby the formaldehyde and acetic anhydride treatments. A similar test was tried out I with barium sulfate extended titanium oxide pig-' ment, but this pigment was dispersed and fixed only by deacetyiated chitin at the concentrations used.

Deacetylated chitin. acetate dispersions of Milori Blue, chrome yellow,'andtalc painted on canvas and exposed for seven months, in-

while untreated portions of Mildew inhibitors may, be added to preserve the canvas.

The following example shows the use of dismoldinhibitor added to protect the. dispersion. Qiluted to-from 0.5% to; 1.0%; pigment 0011-0611-75- fall and winter. to the weather 60 a 2,047,220 gels on standing, probably due to dissolved sulfate precipitating the deacetylated chitin in the one was coagulated and was removed on filtering but solid and then with ammonium hydroxide.

case and the carbonate neutralizing the acid in the latter. Additional acetic acid-has been found to increase stability of calcium carbonate dispersions.

If not protected, dispersions of deacetylated chitin may mold altho this does not occur readily.

The result of molding is in general the flocculation of the pigment or. other solid but there is no development ofan appreciable or disagreeable I odor.

Mold preventives in general can be used, including thymol, phenols, chlorocresols, hexyl resorcinol, and others. Unless reaction with the dispersed material occurs,. there is seldom any appreciable change in the dispersions on standing for a' period of months other than a certain amount of settling which varies from case to case.

Deacetylated chitin disperses pigment-like materials well in acid solution. Addition of alkali coagulates the deacetylated chitin which carries down the dispersed pigment with it. The-filtered combination can be readily redispersed by adding acid, and suitably agitating. Colloidal materials may thus be coagulated and filtered by adding deacetylated chitin and making alkaline, which" I precipitates the deacetylated chitin which carries down the colloidal material with it; This is illustrated by the following example: Example 3 A 10% dispersion of colloidal titanium dioxide in hydrochloric acid was treated as follows:

a. Filtered. The dispersion filtered readily leaving no residue.

b. Treated withammonium hydroxide and filtered. A small part of the titanium dioxide much went thru the filter. A more dilute system was not coagulated perceptibly by this treatment.

a. Treated with 10% of deacetylated chitin to The coagulated material settled rapidly and the filtrate was essentially free from colloidal material. Addition of dilute acid redispersed the coagulated colloid to give a dispersion of colloidal titanium dioxide in deacetylated chitin solution.

Dispersions of finely divided solids may include other materials than deacetylated chitin. Thus, materials such as glue, gelatin may be added to modify the dispersing action, others such as hymolal salts (the alkali metal salts of higher alkyl sulfuric acids such as dodecylsulfuric acid or coconut ,oil alcohol sulfuric acids) or saponin improve the wetting of materials to which they may be added, others to increase fixing or anchoring, others such as thymol, chlorocresols, etc., to prevent mold formation, others such as glycerol, formamide or other softeners, etc., to modify the film properties, water resistance, and the like, penetration assistants such as hydroxyethyldimethyloctadecylammonium chloride,

octadecylbetaine, etc.

Water insoluble materials liquid under the condition of preparation, such, as oils, melted waxes, resin solutions, etc., maybe emulsified with the dispersion and used in this way. Water soluble salts which do not precipitate the dispersion may be added. .Chemical reagents for example those which react with the amine group may be added in suitable quantities. A small amount of formaldehyde, for example, will increase the viscosity of the solution and also. its water resistanceon drying. The number of materials and classes of materials which may be added is large and in added compounds.

general it ispossibleto select a material to modify any particular property of the dispersion. The dispersions of the present invention find application for a large number of uses due to their unique properties, which include:

1. The unusually large variety of solids dispersed or defiocculated. I

2. Their complete miscibility with emulsions or I with dispersions in solutions of salts of deacetylated chitin. V I g 3. Theirlack of foaming in preparation and use.

' 4. Their stability toward hydrogen ion and towards heat.

5. .Their film-forming properties. 6. Their adhesive properties.

I 7. The. development of water resistance on drymg, heating or chemical treatment. 8. Their stability in presence of manytypes of 9. The unusual fixing properties of deacetylated chitin, i. e., the property of the dispersions when -used tocoat or impregnate paper, fabric, wood or other base materials and allowed to dry, 01' fixing the dispersedmaterial so that it is not readily rubbed off, and in many cases, not washed off, even though the proportion of binder be low. Thedispersions are normally positively charged, whichfactor often plays a part in their usefulness.

After treatments may be employed to alter the properties of coated or impregnated materials.

object isessentially dry before the after treatment.

Dispersions of pigments in aqueous solutions of deacetylated chitin have been used for coating of paper. Such coatings show very good ad-' -heslon, being very resistant to rubbing off. When thoroughly dried, heated or specially treated as by ammonia or. formaldehyde, resistance to wet rubbing is unusual, especially when 5% or more of deacetylated chitin to pigment are used. Dimethylol urea may be used to improve all and grease resistance. Different pigments require difrubbing, but 5% to 10% is usually sufficient. Hymolal salts" added to the extent of a few one hundredths of a percent on thebasis of the solutions may be used to obtain smooth coatings. Care must be taken in using materials which con- .chitin even in quite low concentrations.

The following examples illustrate the applications of deacetylated chitin dispersions of solids in'coating paper. Wheneverthe term coating" -ferent proportions of binder to give resistance to 'tain sulfates which may coagulate deacetylated is used, it is intended to include impregnating or' the like, since in many cases, as in the treatment of fabrics, paper, etc., the fibers may be moreor less coated in addition to the surface coating of I w the fabric, paper, etc., as a whole.

' Example-4 Barium sulfate extended titanium dioxide was dispersed in an aqueous solution of the acetate of a medium yiscosity deacetylated chitin to give a, dispersion comprising 32%. titanium, pigment, 75.

. pellant delustered finish.

when pigments are dispersed in solutions of deacetylated chitin salts the resulting dispersions may be of high or low viscosity, depending upon the pigment-deacetylated chitin ratio and on the concentration and type of deacetylated chitin. When applied to paper; silk, wool, linen, cotton, canvas, viscose or acetate rayon or other cloth; wood; leather; and the like, and-dried. such dispersions do not run when wet by water, or when wet by a similar dispersion in a deacetylated chitin salt solution, and are thereforeuseful for indelible, laundry, and drawing inks, artist's colors, non-bleeding showcard colors, etc., as illustrated in the following examples:

Example 10 chrome yellow were made up as follows: Twenty-five parts by weight titanium oxide was dispersed in 75 parts by weight of 2% high viscosity deacetylated chitin acetate and diluted-to suitable consistencywith water. The deacetylated chitin was equivalent to 6% of the pigment.

Thirty parts by weight of chrome yellow was dispersed in '15 parts by weight of 2% high viscosity deacetylated chitin acetate and diluted with 195 cc. of water. The deacetylated chitin was equivalent to of the pigment.

Twenty-five parts by weight of lithol red toner was dispersed in 125 parts by weight of 2% high viscosity deacetylated chitin acetate solution and 100 parts by weight of'water added. The deacetylated chitin was equivalent to 10% of the pigment.

These dispersions were used as,inks, using an ordinary pen, a little glycerin being added to aid flow bypreventing drying on the pen. Once dry," the ink did not run when wet by water, nor

- did it wash off.

the first, caused no bleeding of one color into the other and washing with water did not affect the drawing.

These dispersions were used with brush application and, after drying one color was applied overanother without bleeding of ,one into the other. Water did not damage the nnished article. The addition of a small amount of Gardinol W. A." aided brushing, especially on wood and certain kinds of paper. various colors were readily mixed and/or diluted with water.

' These dispersions applied to leather, nitrocellulose"coated fabric, book-binding materials.

glass, tin,- rubber, cork, etc., show good adhesion and resistance to rubbing and washing.

Blue inks were made using "Halopont Blue" or similar blue pigments, etc. These performed satisfactorily in fountain'pens. Irongallo-tannate inks, using ferrous chloride, may be pigmented with such'blue dispersions.

Pigment-wax combinations have been found to be more resistant to rubbing, weathering, water, etc., than pigment dispersions alone. The various waxes.'resins, oils, etc., which may be .emulsifled by deacetylated-chitin may be used, either Dispersions of titanium oxide, lithol red and The following example shows suitable mixed dis- 10 persion-emulSions and is representative of the many mixed emulsion dispersions which may be made using the materials disclosed in copending' pplication Serial No. 11,274 of George W. Rigby, illed March 15, 1935.

Example 11 A dispersion containing the following was made Per cent Titanium dioxide 20.0 Paraffin 3.0 Beeswa 2.0 Hexylresorcinol 0.1 Deacetylated ,rhifln v ,35' Water 69.0

Deacetylated chitin was equivalent to about 14% or combined pigment-wax.

Used asa leather coating, this composition could'be rubbed to a gloss and could not be removed by rubbing, washing with water, dilute acid, soap or benzene. Applied to wood as a paint, after. three months southern exposure outdoors, it still showed coverage of the wood. Diluted slightly with glycerin and used as white ink, this composition was applied to the outside of a bill fold. After carryingin a hip pocket for seven months, including summer weather, thus representing severe conditions, the writing was in good condition. A commercial white drawing ink was removed in a few days.

Flat wall paints may be made with deacetylated chitin as the binder, giving anaqueous flat paint which, after drying, does not rub ofl and is resistant to water. Such paints may be made using a variety of pigments or pigment mixtures, either colored or white, pigment-wax mixtures, or pigment-resin systems, and the like, asis shown by the following examples:

Example 12 v I A. Fifteen hundred parts of lithophone was dispersed in 2000 parts of a solution containing 120 parts of deacetylated chitin as acetate and 0.6 parts of hymolal sm to give a flat paint of goodbrushing properties and marked rubbing and water resistance. j a I B. A mixture of 170 parts of extended titanium pigment and 18 parts of paraffin was dispersed in 300 partsof solution containing 15 parts of 'deacetylated chitin and 0.12 parts of hymolal salts concentrated powder. Brushing was good, as was resistance to dry rubbing while resistance to water was even better than the similar system without the wax.

gave a satisfacpaints. Furthermore, the relative water pertogether with a definite sizing due to the presence "fabric, dispersions meability of many of these deacetylated chitin paints is advantageous. 2

Paper pulp may be caused to retain unusual amounts of pigment when deacetylated chitin is used for fixing the pigment tothe pulp, as is shown by the following example:

Example 13 To 100 parts of a paper pulp containing 3% solids were added 1.2 parts of a titanium dioxide dispersion containing 0.3 parts of titanium dioxide, and .025 parts of deacetylated chitin. n making alkaline, the deacetylated chitin was precipitated, carrying down the pigment with it. Such a dispersion, properly diluted and cast into paper sheets shows unusual retention of pigment of the deacetylated chitin. a

While certain of the uses of deacetylated chitinsolid dispersions have been disclosed in detail, it may also be mentioned that these dispersions, especially pigment dispersons, are usefullnplastic paints; in fiat paints; in emulsion paints; in

'white inks, especially when combined with wax emulsions; as a binder for starch on paper; as a binder for putty and calking compounds; in pigmented collar sizes; in intaglio printing inks; as a binder for decorative flakes, or for fire-proofing or retarding materials: as a mordant for pigment in paper; as a fixative for non-fading pigments for auto tops; etc. Graphite may be dispersed and used in oilless bearings. F I I Abrasive paper and cloth may be made using dispersions of abrasives or by dusting abrasives on a paper or cloth coated with a deacetylated chitin film while the film is tacky and then insolubilising. i

I'ior combined spotproofing and delustering comprising deacetylated chitin, paramn or other waxes, titanium dioxide,

and other pigments have been found to be of i great utility. By the proper selection of pigchitin solutions, printing may be carried out directly on regenerated cellulose films and the ment, it is possible to prepare shoe whites having good covering power andresistance to removal by rubbing. If glossy finishes are desired. inclusion of oils or waxes in the dispersions will aid. 1

By using dispersions of pigments in deacetylated printed product is not damaged by hot or cold water. In .the moth-proofing of fabrics, the Imoth-repellent material in the form of a fine.- of a deacetylated chitin,'isflapplied to the fabric and on drying, the repellent material is fixed to the fabric more firmly and permanently than without; the deacetylated chitin. Where the moth-repellent. is water soluble, it is much more permanently heldby the deacetylated chitin film formed on the fabric.

is insoluble in acid, alkaline or solutions.

tfivided solid, dispersed in a solution of a salt IntheuseofdispersionsoflllMtitiM-ithdr.

sirable tha'rthe insecticide adhere firmly to the plant or fruit, resist washing by rain and yet be capable of being washed oil. Deacetylated chitin fixes insecticides generally such as barium fluosilicate, lead arsenate, etc., and renders the fixed product resistant to dry rubbing and to washing. Furthermore, the deacetylated chitin is readily redissolved by soaking in weak acid such as dilute acetic acid and scrubbing lightly.

' As an anchor for finely divided solids, deacetylated chitin has many advantages including the large variety of solids which can be anchored thereby; the small amount of deacetylated chitin necessary for fixing; the large variety of base materials to which deacetylated chitin anchors material; and the remarkable water resistance developed by simple drying, or by heating or special chemical treatment.

On sprinkling a finely divided solid on a sur: face wet with a solution of deacetylated chitin acetate and drying remarkable adhesion is obtained. Similarly, an object *coated with deacetylated chitin acetate solution and dried and y then dipped intoa suspension of a finely divided solid retains unusually large amounts of the solid when removed and dried.

When treated with alkaline media as NHiOH. or even NHs, water insolulle deacetylated chitin is formed, rendering the coating material water resistant. I be applied effectively to the dry or essentially dry articles.

NH: is especially useful, since it can 3 When heated, salts of deacetylated chitin almost always become insoluble in water, and generally also insoluble in acid. Deacetylated chitin itself; when heated for a considerable period, 'tends to become insoluble in acids. Chemicals in general which react with amines, will react with deacetylated chitin. Some of these will react at once; others can be added to the solution and will react only after the solutions are dried or heated. Formaldehyde or its polymers, for example, readily form insoluble compounds. They may be added to the dispersions or used in after treatments.

Acetic anhydride readily reacts" in the cold.

Thus, starting with a salt solution of deacetylated chitin, drying the salt, and heating the dry product. a product may be obtained which is no longer soluble in water, alkaline medium or acid medium.

With, the phthalic acid salt, a product is obtained insoluble in water or acid, but soluble in alkaline medium. With the nitrourea salt, the product neutral aqueous While the invention has been described in de-.

tailin terms of deacetylated chitin obtained from shrimp or crab shells which are preferred because of their ready availability, the comparative ease of preparation of the deacetylated chitin, and the convenience of its use, the invention is generally applicable to the use, as dispersing and fixing agents, of deacetylated chitin insoluble in water or alkaline media but soluble in aqueous organic acid media and depositing coherent films therefrom, i: e., organic acid soluble deacetylated chitin. Instead of shrimp, shell chitin, chitin'derived from lobster shells or the outer integu-- ments of insects such as locusts, grasshoppers, and the like, may be used. Chitin-containing materials from vegetable sources such as myoc- -lium fromfungi such as Aspergillus niaer may likewise be used. For dispersons a widerrange of viscosities may be employed even including rather highly degraded materials. was carbohyu 35 liquid under said conditions dispersed in an of or variation therefrom which conforms to the.

the dispersion dispersed drate amine polymers which in the claims without recltations indicative of the material being in solution, the term includes derivatives such as the insolubilized formaldehyde treated, anhydride treated,etc., derivatives.

The above description and tended to be illustrative only. Any modification spirit of the invention is intended to be. included within the scope of the claims.

We claim:

1. A dispersion comprising a finely divided substantially unreactive and water insoluble material solid under the conditions of preparation of in an aqueous solution of a salt of deacetylated chitin.

2. A dispersion comprising a-finely divided sub- 'stantially unreactive and water insoluble material solid under the conditions of preparation of the dispersion dispersed inan aqueous solution of an acetate of deacetylated chitin.

3. A dispersion comprising a finely divided sub- '-stantially unreactive and water insoluble material solid under the conditions ofpreparatlon of the dispersion dispersed in 'an aqueous solution of a chitin containing an acid 4. A dispersion comprising aflnely divided substantially unreactive and water insoluble mate- I stantially unreactive liquid under said rial solid under the conditions of preparation of the dispersion together with a finely divided substantially unreactive and water insoluble material aqueous solution of a saltof deacetylated chitin. 5.. A dispersion comprising a finely divided suband water insoluble mate-' rial solid under the conditions of preparation of the dispersion together with a finely divided substantially unreactive and water insoluble material conditions dispersed in an aqueous solution of an. acetate of deacetylated'chitin.

- 6'. A dispersion comprising a pigment in an aqueous solution of a salt of deacetylated s chitin.

' 7. A dispersion comprising a wax and a" pigment dispersed in an aqueous solution of a salt of deacetylated chitin. i 8. Process of preparing dispersions which comprises agitating togethera material in the form of a finely divided substantially unreactive and water insoluble solid and an aqueous a salt of deacetylated chitin.

9. Process of preparingrdispersions which comprises agitating together a material in the form of a finely divided water insoluble solid and a n'aqueous an acetate of deacetylated chitin.

substantially unreactive and solution of deposit coherent I films are much preferred however in view of their examples are in-' V ing thereon of dispersed solution of 10. Process of preparing dispersions which comprises agitating together a material in the form of a finely divided substantially unreactive and water insoluble solid and a substantially unreactive and water insoluble material in the'form of a liquid and an aquedus solution of a salt of deacetylated chitin; 1

. 11. Process of coating objects which comprises applying thereto a coating of an aqueousdisp'ersion comprising a finely divided substantially unreactive and water insoluble material solid under the conditions of preparation of. the dispersion dispersed in. an aqueous solution of a salt of deacetylated chitin.

12. Process of coating objects which comprises applying thereto a coating of an aqueous dispersion comprising a finely divided substantially'unreactive and waterinsoluble material solid under the conditions of preparation of the dispersion dispersed in an aqueous solution of an acetate of deacetylated chitin. v I

v 13. A coated article of manufacture having'a filmon itssurface of a composition comprising deacetylated chitin and a solid, said film being deposited from the dispersion oi" claim l.

'l4..An article of manufacture bearing acoata film-of deacetylated chitin and superposed thereon and anchored-thereby tosaid article of manufacture 'a finely divided pigment in discontinuous particles. 7 I 30 15. Process of coating objectswhich comprises applying thereto a coating of an aqueous disper-- sion comprising a finely divided substantially unreactive and water 16. A dispersion comprising a titanium pi ment -i0 a dispersed in an aqueous solution of deacetylated -chitin.. I 17. A dispersion comprising a titanium pigment I and a mold preventive dispersed in an aqueous solution of a salt of deacetylated chitin.

18. A coated article of manufacture having afilm onv its surface comprising deacetylated chitin and substantially unreacting water insoluble, ma- .terial, said film being deposited from the dispersion of claim 4.

19.- A dispersion comprising a'pigment and a moldpreventivedlspersed in an aqueous solution of a salt of deacetylated chitin. 20, A dispersion comprising a titanium pigment and vsalicylanillde dispersed in an aqueous tion of an acetate of deacetylated chitin.

cannon p. rarrnnson.

JAMES H. PETERSON.

insoluble material solid under the conditions of preparation of. the dispersion, S5. 

